Today Lucy and I played a game where she would point at things and ask what they were. Clock, table, fireplace, dog, kitchen....then it moved on to body parts: elbow, finger, cheek, butt...I think you can guess where I'm going. So we got her private area and I stumbled. Parenting books always tell you to not make up funny names for body parts. Somehow it starts to confuse them when it comes to actually learning their names. While I've taught her what a "boob" is, I was not ready to hear "vagina" come out of my little girls mouth.
So as I stumble over my words, Lucy gets impatient and keeps saying "That? THAT?? Mommy??? Butt?" I don't want her to get more confused and I tell her, in the quietest voice I've ever had, "vagina". She gets this humongous smile on her face, like she just found out the most fascinating information in the world. She can tell I didn't want to say it so what does my angelic little two year old do? You guessed it, she starts saying "GINA! GINA! GINA!" over and over again. I cringed a little inside, but knew it was because she was proud she learned a new body part name. I couldn't fault her for that. So I smiled and said, "Yes baby. Now what is that?" I pointed to her feet only to have her look at me and answer, "Gina?"
Alicia, that was so funny. I can remember having that very same conversation with my girls. Their Dad at that time said "Why don't you just call it their crotch?" Believe me I do like vagina (Gina) better. Love your stories. Mom Leone
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